Fred Barnes column
"The sudden embrace of social conservatism by top Republican presidential candidates has been widely misunderstood. It's been portrayed, particularly in the media, as political pandering of the first order--and nothing more. True, there's a large element of pandering when a candidate switches his position on abortion, gay marriage, and other social issues with an eye to gaining votes. But..."
"But for a Republican seeking his party's nomination, shifting to the right on social issues is hardly shocking. Rather, it's quite normal, it's absolutely necessary, and it's likely to work."Isaac Chotiner